Frequently
Asked Questions

Could a person have FAS or FAE and
not know it?

Yes. Not even all doctors recognize
and diagnose these birth defects. The most obvious symptoms of FAS and FAE are
often the behavioral ones, and people don’t always consider a prenatal cause.
Many people who have gotten the diagnosis say they knew that something was not
right, but no one had ever been able to help them figure out what was wrong.

Can babies be born drunk, just like some babies exposed to drugs are born
experiencing withdrawal?

If a mother has been drinking
heavily just before having her baby, there will be alcohol in the baby’s
blood just as in the mother’s. If the mother is drunk, the fetus will be
drunk. Babies of mothers who have been drinking regularly will often go through
withdrawal after birth. After birth, a baby can also get alcohol through its mother’s
breast milk if she is breast-feeding, but not enough to get drunk.

Does hard liquor cause more damage to the fetus than beer or wine?

All types of alcohol can cause the same type of damage. The alcohol in a glass
of wine, a beer or a wine cooler is the same as the alcohol in a shot of hard
liquor like gin, whiskey or vodka. Typically a can of beer, a glass of wine and
a shot of liquor each contain about 0.5 ounces of alcohol.

Does drinking by the father affect the fetus?

There has not been enough research on the effects of alcohol, tobacco and drugs
on a man’s sperm, so we don’t know what the biological affect on the
fetus might be. What happens after that, though, is not yet understood. We do
know that it is helpful for a man not to drink around a woman who is trying not
to drink. By sharing the healthy lifestyle choice, a man is really helping his
partner have a healthier baby.

Are children with FAS
and FAE more at risk for becoming alcoholics?

Research
has shown that people whose parents were alcoholics are at a higher risk of becoming
alcoholics than people whose parents were not alcoholics. If a person with FAS
or FAE had parents who were alcoholics, then they would be at a greater risk themselves.

How will I know if I am at risk for becoming an alcoholic?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says "When family members
(parents, grandparents, aunts/uncle), guardians or other adults in charge of children
are alcoholic, there is strong evidence that children in these families are more
likely to develop the disease of alcoholism as well. The fact is, alcoholism tends
to run in families." There are also other indicators for alcoholism including
community, school, individual and peer risk factors.

Can
FAS or FAE be passed on from generation to generation?

As far as researchers know at this time, FAS and FAE cannot be genetically passed
on from generation to generation. There is some research that shows that alcoholism
is more common in some families than others. That may be a factor in more than
one generation having FAS or FAE in their families.

How
do we know that alcohol caused a person’s problems instead of something
else?

If a person has FAS, we know that alcohol caused
the FAS. For people who don’t have all the signs of FAS, it is harder to
tell if their problems were caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol or something
else. It is common for some problems, like learning disabilities, to have several
causes like genetics, poor living environment, and drug or alcohol exposure during
pregnancy. Sometimes a doctor has to make the best judgment he or she can, and
might say that a person has possible fetal alcohol effects.

Is it OK for a woman to drink only during special occasions when she is
pregnant?

Since there is no KNOWN safe amount of
alcohol to drink during pregnancy, the best choice is not to drink at all, even
during special occasions. Many people use sparkling cider or non-alcoholic wines
as a substitute at special occasions where adults are drinking. Remember that
it is illegal for people who are under-aged to drink alcohol.

Is there any safe amount of alcohol a pregnant woman can drink?

There is no KNOWN safe amount of alcohol a pregnant woman can drink and not risk
damaging her baby.

Can alcohol damage a baby at any
stage of its development, including times before a woman might realize that she
is pregnant?

Yes.

Should
a woman worry if she drank before she knew she was pregnant? What should she do?

Regardless of the stage of pregnancy, a woman improves the chances of having a
healthy baby if she stops drinking. Although there may be reason to worry, if
drinking was heavy prior to recognizing the dangers, stopping the risky behavior
is the best possible advice for the remainder of the pregnancy. If a woman cannot
stop drinking, get help. For additional information, see a listing of organizations
under "Agencies You May Wish to Contact".

Do
the effects of FAS and FAE last a person’s entire lifetime?

The brain damage caused by prenatal alcohol exposure DOES last a person’s
lifetime. Sometimes the physical features become less obvious at puberty, as the
child becomes a teenager.

Could I know someone with
FAS or FAE?

It is possible that you may know someone
with FAS or FAE, but without the diagnosis of a doctor it would be very hard to
say for certain. For example, the physical features characteristic of children
with FAS must be carefully considered by a physician and determined to fall within
a designated range. The behavioral problems associated with FAS and FAE are often
the most obvious symptoms of the underlying birth defect, yet these can also result
from causes other than drinking during pregnancy. Regardless of the diagnosis,
it is important to treat all of our fellow students with respect, kindness and
dignity.

Do I have an alcohol-related birth defect?

This is an issue that you will need to discuss with your parent or guardian. A
diagnosis of an alcohol-related birth defect requires an evaluation by a physician
trained to recognize these types of birth defects. A positive diagnosis can result
in identifying the special needs of such individuals and the resources available
to more effectively teach and train them for productive and successful lives.

Why would a woman drink while she is pregnant?

There can be a variety of reasons why a woman would drink while pregnant ranging
from ignorance of the risks of alcohol-related birth defects, to social pressures,
to alcohol addiction, itself. What can you do? Tell her why it is important to
stop drinking and encourage her to do so. If she has trouble stopping, tell her
about the local organizations that can help her quit.

*Modified
from "The Fabulous F.A.S. Quiz Show," The March of Dimes Birth Defects
Foundation and the Washington State Department of Health.